Afghanistan

ROME - Italy's negotiation for the release of Taliban militants in exchange for the freedom of an Italian hostage in Afghanistan has placed Premier Romano Prodi in the firing line days before a crucial parliamentary vote on keeping the country's troo

The Italian government summoned the Afghan ambassador to Rome on Tuesday to express its concern over reports that a man in Afghanistan faces the death penalty because he has converted to Christianity.
Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini said if t

Last month, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on Afghanistan that could pave the way for a new and more open-minded approach to counternarcotics strategies worldwide. In fact, the resolution called on the participants at a conference of do

Afghanistan's decades-long trek through the mire of poverty and mayhem could be shortened by a push from the international community, which has pledged $10.5 billion (U.S.) in aid to move the war-devastated country further along the road to recovery.

Chief observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EUEOM) on Saturday recommended improvements in Afghanistan's future elections."Overall, given their complexity and operational challenges, the elections are an accomplishment, al